Poldark’s Aidan Turner: ‘I don’t see myself as a sex symbol’

Earlier this year, Aidan Turner set more than a few hearts racing in the hit BBC1 drama Poldark – especially in a particular scene in which he appeared without his shirt.

The actor caused a stir when his character, bathed in sweat, appeared topless, with scythe in hand, but it seems the former Being Human star can’t see what all the fuss is about.

(Ian West/PA)

The Irish heart-throb described the mania surrounding the image of him holding the scythe as “very strange”, but said the fact that he had to get his top off every week made him adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Aidan, 32, told the Daily Mail Weekend magazine: “Well, I still don’t see myself as a sex symbol. Nothing has changed for me in that regard.

“There were parts of the show where people could relate to that idea I suppose, but I never felt like a sex symbol. I wasn’t thinking ‘here’s me being a sex symbol’ when Poldark went into the sea for a swim.”

Asked if his view changed when the series went out, he said: “No. I couldn’t understand why people thought either me or Ross was a sex symbol. None of it made any sense to me so I just didn’t bother with it.

“When you’re in the eye of the storm it just feels like a natural progression, I don’t feel this stratospheric rise or anything.

“I come across sweet people in the street now who ask for a photograph, but I can’t stop other people just taking them. You have to get on with it.

(Jonathan Brady/PA)

“And then there was that picture of me holding that scythe topless in the show that seemed to go round for quite a while.

“That was very strange, although it didn’t take attention away from the show so I was fine with it. And at least because there was a ‘Ross gets his top off’ scene every couple of weeks, it stopped me drinking beer and eating pasties.”